It has been forever since my last post. What a crazy month it has been. School got started and my assistant for the past two years decided to take a new job offer with a significant pay raise so I ended up getting a new assistant. Fortunately for me she is a wonderful lady that I have known and worked with. Upon entering my lab she decided to help me go through the things that had been left from it's previous inhabitants. I can't begin to tell you how much we cleaned up but now the lab looks great and our kids love it.
Now on to the really yucky news! IKE!!!!! FUnny how one word can cause so much emotion for soooo many folks. We were truly blessed and I really do mean that. Out properties were left in good shape considering what they endured. We were all safe and out of harm's way during the hurricane. We got our power back after 13 days and our phones back after 17 days. Our internet service came back within about 15 days. The grocery stores are still trying to stock up and so are the restuarants as they try to get in food. Power lines are hanging down on our street and about the time we got our power back on (Thursday night) we lost it again on Sunday night due to the tree trucks pulling the lines down while trying to carry out the tree debreis. Our power was returned the next day @ 2:50 in the afternoon. Needless to say, it is an on again, off again kind of power for many folks in this area. None of us are complaining as we are grateful for the power that we are receiving.
Ed and Kat drove all the way to Dallas to get a couple of generators so that Ed could sleep during the day and work at night and his folks, who were housing us, would have power to maintain the food and fans / lights. We actually lived almost like royalty as we had propane cooker and a pit to cook on outside. Yes, Ed's folks housed Ed, me, Kat, Karl, 3 miniature dachshunds (Duke, Duchess, and Duncan), and one very overweight cat named Charlie. Ed even brought back his oldest brother Mike from Dallas and he stayed several days to help out with the clean-up. His wife joined us later in the week.
One of the worst things that happened was that our uncle, Elmer Moore passed away on the day that the storm blew in. He actually married Polly and Sonny (my in-laws), Ed and I, and Kat and Karl. He was a gospel preacher for 57 years and dearly loved the Lord. His funeral could not be held until the second Monday after the storm due to Ike and the lack of power / debris. He will be missed by many....especially us.
On another sad note, my in-laws had a camp house down at Oak Island which is located near Anahuac but on the water. We went to see the damage from the storm and found our slab and house pillars. The house that had withstood Carla and Alicia was completely gone....as were the other bay houses that had once surrounded it. The water had risen up well over 20 feet ( approximately 26 ft.) and then the waves were up higher than that. In fact, the water was over the trees and then the waves began. The only things left near our slab were the hot water heater, a few jalousy window panes, a little silverware and some plates that you could eat off of. We actually found a couple of glass glasses with no chips or cracks in them. There was no roof, wood, appliances, linens, pots, furniture, etc...left! One of our trees had literally been ripped right out of the ground from it's roots and there was nothing left but a hole. I can't begin to describe the devistation that we saw on Oak Island that day....not just for us, but everyone. Lot's of folks lived down there and lost everything they owned.
We are not upset about the material losses as they can always be replaced. We are all saddened about the loss of the house that Ed's grandfather and family built. They had over 50 years of memories wrapped up in that house. We all used it for a vacation spot and fishing spot. It was a great place to get "away from it all" and let kids grow up during the summers.
It really makes me appreciate all that I have so much more. When I say that we are very blessed, I really do mean it. Sometimes we take for granted just how truly blessed we are. We need to thank God every day for all of our blessings as it is from Him that all blessings flow.
Martha, I am so sorry to hear of the loss of Uncle Elmer. My heart goes out to you guys and prayers. Also I wanted to let you all know I am sorry to hear about paw-paw's and grandma's house. That has to be hard and for all the other ones who lost everything.
Welcome back to pleonast nad tell everyone we said hello. Luv ya! *hugs*
I agree with ^ him on what he just said. I really look up to your family and how strong everyone is with all that is going or has been. Miss you guys and tell Ed hello from John and I.
The cry from every teacher can be heard throughout the land....School is starting back up. Some districts are already back in the saddle. I go back on Monday morning....uuggghhhh!!
Reflections:
Where did my summer go???
recap - Taught summer school: month of June
1st trip - Spokane to visit family 10 days: family in hospital for five days of that trip
Home - 1 1/2 weeks: finished July, VBS, and had dad in hospital
2nd trip - Richmond, VA to see Josh and April for 11 days: good trip, traveled a lot to PA, NC, and TN.
Home - 1 week: olympic watching is a must
Now it is the middle of August and my summer just ended. Looking back over my summer it was busy, packed totally full, and went by really, really fast. Maybe I do need to go back to work so I can rest.....What a horrible thought!!!!
I need a vacation, from my vacation!!!!!
Side note: Please continue to keep April's Aunt Pat in your prayers. She has been moved into the bigger hospital in Tampa and will have to have surgery to remove a large mass that was found in her abdomen. This will be done relatively soon. She has been in ICU since Tuesday and was just moved into a private room today. Not sure when the surgery will be but I know it will be very soon. They have already had to remove 2 1/2 liters of fluid from her abdomen and they think the mass caused the fluid. Still a lot of unknowns but she is in good spirits.
haha... hey.. you're not hurting them if you ban them from virginia.. think about it.. gas prices are expensive, and so is air fare. now you gotta make every trip here. you and josh better get second jobs to pay for all these trips to come visit.. cause if mom and dad cant come up there it's gonna be at least two trips down here a year now... that's like three months worth of mcdonalds paychecks. :-P
^Thanks for asking about JOyce and dad. Both are doing good. Joyce is awaiting her surgical biopsy and Dad is up and moving. He fell the other day but didn't seem to hurt himself. You know how stubborn he is about doing everything for himself..... He is using a cane now so that is a plus.
We are finally heading home today. We catch the big bird and fly in tonight. It has been a whirlwind trip for us as we have tried to take in quite a bit of sight-seeing and lots of activities, as well as lots of visiting. We have caught up on our long-distance friendships and do hate to leave our friends and family here but we know that we must return to our friends, family, and jobs back home.
There will be no slowing down once we land in Houston as Ed returns to work the following day and I go back to a full docket of appointments before starting back to work on Monday. No rest for the weary.
We have had a wonderful trip filled with memories to share. Our son and daughter-in-law have been gracious hosts and have allowed us to invade their new home. We feel special as we are their first house guests. I think we are allowed to come back.....
Please keep April's aunt Pat in your prayers. We found out this morning that she has been admitted into the hospital. I don't know any of the particulars at this time. She lives in Florida.
We absolutely loved the shows in Lancaster and highly recommend both of them. After purchasing two quilts, peaches, corn, and a watermelon, we headed back to Richmond to pick up the kids and head out towards Tennessee. We stopped over at the Biltmore for a great tour. The house is only 175,000 square feet....yep, you read it right. It is a must see if you are ever in the area. The gardens were beautiful.
After our tour we went to our final destination....Pigeon Forge. Our cabin rocked!!! We couldn't have been more pleased: wood floors, stone fireplace, hot tub, pool table, jacuzzi tubs in both baths, wrap around porch, full kitchen, washer and dryer, and our resort had a putt-putt course, golf course, four fishing ponds, and swimming pool. We were just a few miles from Cades Cove where we went and saw the deer, bears, and beautiful scenery. We even experienced some local wildlife up close and personal when our daughter-in-law April found a live scorpion in her bathroom sink. Josh, our son, rescued her by capturing the little critter in a ziploc baggie. Good news for any who don't know, the scorpions in Tennessee are non-poisonous.....so we are told.
We are back in Richmond and will return home on Tuesday. Our son is now a celebrity as he was chosen to be on stage at the Comedy Barn. Just ask and we will let you see our DVD.....
Don't mean they don't hurt. I never have been stung by one of those. I think you should put the movie on youtube.com. I would watch. I am sure he was hammin' it up. Tell Josh we caught a scorpion at the deer lease a long time ago and let Jennifer have it as a pet. She had a critter keeper she kept it in. We also took it to her school for show and tell. Right before that or right after that she had a black widow for a pet. It also went to school for show and tell.
So glad to be home and not in those woods anymore with scorpion critters running around. She didn't mention that we found another one in the bathroom right before we left. I couldn't have gotten out of there fast enough. :-)
Ed and I are sitting in Lancaster, Pa. We were just in Richmond, Va visiting the kids and I have to tell you that Josh and April have a really nice new townhome. They have it fixed up soooooo cute and we found April to be quite the cook in her totally new kitchen!!!! Poor Josh.....he will have to be really careful or else he will put on wayyyyyyy to much weight!
Ed and I went to see Abraham and Sarah at the Sight and Sound Theatre today. It was totally awesome!!! Tomorrow we go to see In the Beginning. Ed was feeling soooo good that he bought me two....count them, TWO quilts! I have wanted one for years, but now I have two!!!!! I am so overwhelmed. I think my hubby really does luv me!!! When we get home I will get Kat to help me post pictures of them.
Well, I can honestly say that I have never seen so many fields of corn. We have been driving around and looking at the farms in the area. They are really nice with the rolling hills.
Back to VA tomorrow to meet back up with the kids and head south toward Tennessee.
